Massachusetts running back Marquis Young (8) is stopped after a short gain by Florida defensive back Nick Washington, left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

AMHERST — As the UMass football team returned from Christmas break for its spring semester last year, the players reconvened in a team meeting room at its practice facility.

The date was Jan. 21 — more than seven months before the start of the 2018 season, but not too early to set goals. The Minutemen had finished 2017 strong, but knew they left more on the table. Too many close, early-season losses left them in a typical position — another losing season and no trip to a bowl game.

For this season, they wanted to put the past away, once and for all.

The meeting was player-led, with seniors having the biggest voice, and they set small goals — for spring practices, summer camp and preseason. But it all led to one bigger goal.

This group’s goal is to not just merely make it to a bowl. Twenty years after it won a national championship at the 1-AA level, the seniors are focused on leaving a new legacy for a program that has not enjoyed a winning campaign in each of its first six seasons in FBS.

“I was just thinking to myself like, ‘Why would you just want to make it to the championship, why would you just want to make it to the Super Bowl and say, hey, I made it to the Super Bowl,’ ” Barr said. “You’re not accomplishing anything — you’re accepting second place. Why would you ever want to accept to lose? We want to go to a bowl game and win it, you know? We’ve never done that in this program’s history.

“Coach (Mark) Whipple always talks about the 1998 team winning the national championship. We want to create a new legacy. We want to talk about that 2018 team who won a bowl game for the first time.”

With experience back, depth that Whipple said is better than it’s been since he returned in 2012, and a favorable schedule, UMass certainly has the capability to make that kind of leap this year. Beyond that, Barr said there’s a certain amount of accountability and commitment that didn’t exist when he arrived last season.

Redshirt senior quarterback Andrew Ford is back along with a group of offensive weapons that includes running back Marquis Young and wide receiver Andy Isabella. It’s a senior group that Ford says understands the expectations after years of falling short.

“I think the excitement and the energy around this building is better than it’s ever been before,” Ford said.

“Getting to a bowl game was probably the original goal of the team, but thinking of it, your last game as seniors, you don’t want to just get there and lose. I think getting there and winning it and having your last game in this UMass uniform as a win is something we’ll be able to remember forever. . . . (It) would be really cool for this group to get it done.”

UMass lost its first six games last season by 10 points or less before turning it around to win four of its last six, and Whipple said that momentum has carried over into this summer. The coach said his players are carrying themselves with more confidence going into this season.

Starting Saturday against Duquesne, they’re ready to go out and be remembered.

“We have a brand new team this year, and I like to consider myself one of the leaders on this team, and I’m just trying to tell this team that we’re not going to put up with mediocrity,” Barr said. “We’re going to go the extra mile, and our goal is to win a bowl game. Not make it, win it.”

5 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Andrew Ford — QB, 6-3, 210

Having arrived before the 2016 season, Ford enters his final season in Amherst in the top five in program history in several passing categories. He started 10 games last season and finished with 2,924 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions. He was named to the Davey O’Brien Award watch list.

Marquis Young — RB, 6-1, 210

The running back with great speed led UMass with 982 yards on 192 carries (5.4 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns. Poised for a breakout senior season, Young was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list.

Andy Isabella — WR, 5-10, 190

The speedy receiver led the Minutemen last season with 65 catches, 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns as he started all 12 games. He was named to the Biletnikoff Award, Paul Hornung Award and Wuerrfel Trophy watch lists.

Isaiah Rodgers — CB, 5-10, 170

The junior from Tampa probably is UMass’ best returning player. Rodgers has game-breaking ability from the secondary and in the return game. Last season, he led the team with 14 passes defended and had three interceptions, including one for a touchdown.

Bryton Barr — MLB, 6-0, 225

Now in his seventh and final season of college football after injuries ravaged his career, Barr undoubtedly is UMass’ defensive leader. Last season he led the team with 105 tackles and was second with nine tackles for loss and five sacks. This year he was named to the Butkus Award watch list.